Notice of Public HearingConcerning the Update of a Sea Level Change ScenarioPursuant to Public Act 18-82

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) will hold a public hearing concerning the update of a sea level change scenario on Tuesday, October 2, 2018, at 6 p.m., in the Gina McCarthy Auditorium, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, 79 Elm St., Hartford CT.

All members of the public are invited to attend.

PURPOSE OF PUBLIC HEARINGIn accordance with Public Act 18-82, the University of Connecticut shall update and publish the sea level change scenarios published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Technical Report OAR CPO-1, and the Commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection shall publish the sea level change scenario for the state. Such sea level change scenario shall guide municipal and state planning in the manner described in Public Act 18-82, including its use in the following planning documents:1. Municipal evacuation or hazard mitigation plans;2. The state’s civil preparedness plan and program;3. Municipal plans of conservation and development; and 4. Revisions to the state’s plan of conservation and development.

The Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) at the University of Connecticut has updated the sea level change scenarios as required in Public Act 18-82 and recommends a sea level change scenario that anticipates that sea level will be 0.5 m (1foot 8 inches) higher than the national tidal datum in Long Island Sound by 2050. The analysis supporting this recommendation is available in the draft report entitled Sea Level Rise in Connecticut by James O’Donnell, available online at: https://circa.uconn.edu/2018/03/27/sea-level-rise-projections-for-the-state-of-connecticut-webinar-recording-available/

Prior to such scenario taking effect for the purposes described by Public Act 18-82, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and CIRCA shall conduct one public hearing concerning such update.

The hearing will include a presentation by CIRCA followed by an informal question and answer session. The public will then be invited to give comments on the proposed update.

WRITTEN COMMENTSIn addition to the public hearing, DEEP will also receive written comments during the period through and including Friday, October 5, 2018. Written comments may be submitted via email to Brian.Thompson@ct.gov or sent to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Attn. Brian Thompson, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106.

ADA PUBLICATION STATEMENTThe Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request an accommodation contact us at 860-418-5910 or deep.accommodations@ct.gov

/s/ Robert E. KaliszewskiRobert E. Kaliszewski, Deputy Commissioner

Environmental Quality Branch

Published in the CT Post, Hartford Courant, Waterbury Republican American, New Haven Register, The Day and the Stamford Advocate on September 4, 2018